This blog is a personal take on Listowel, Co. Kerry. I am writing for anyone anywhere with a Listowel connection but especially for sons and daughters of Listowel who find themselves far from home. Contact me at listowelconnection@gmail.com

Tag: Cnoc an Óir

St. John’s, New Kingdom and a 1965 Guide to Listowel

Morning in Gurtinard Wood

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Stained Glass Windows  in St. John’s

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New Kingdom July 2018



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Aileen Skimson remembers her Roots


Aileen Skimson, Née Greaney, lives in a  small town in Canada. Her father grew up in Listowel and Aileen remembers with fondness her three visits to his hometown. She kept the “official Guide” she bought on her very first visit at age 12 in 1967. She is now downsizing and came across the brochure in her clearout. She thought of us and she sent me the pictures to share with you. 

The story then got a bit more complicated. Aileen sent the pages as pdfs and i cant manage them for the blog so I asked her to take photographs of the pages but that didn’t work out either . So the following photos and the others I will be sharing in the next while are brought to you thanks to the kind offices of Dave O’Sullivan who is a great friend of our blog.





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Sunset from Cnoc an Óir



liam Enright took these in July 2018

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Trees,  Penfriends and Schoolboys




Yesterday I told you about the absolutely magnificent trees on Listowel Pitch and Putt Course. I often walk by the course and I am always in awe at the beautiful trees. 

Neil Brosnan got in touch with a story about the trees. This is what Neil wrote on Facebook;

“I recall our St Michael’s and St Mary’s classes planting some of those trees, along with our counterparts from Listowel, Ontario, C1971. The Canadian red maples were to mark our pen-friendship since fifth class in primary school.”



According to Neil, Dick O’Flaherty, their fifth class teacher at Scoil Realta na Maidine in 1965/66 got a letter from his counterpart in Listowel, Canada asking if they could initiate a penpal friendship with the boys. Neil himself was a bit miffed because he got a boy penpal.



A delegation from Listowel in Canada came to town in 1971 and among the many events that were organised for that visit was a tree planting in the Listowel Pitch and Putt course.

I wonder does anyone have a photo of that or even a story from the pen friendship days.

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Replacing the Street Lights




When a street light  in Listowel blows now they replace it with an LED one.

Rattoo Abbey, Dec. 6 2015 in The Square and a view from Cnoc an Óir

London Irish News


 Dermot O’Leary has been revealed as the new charity patron of theLondon Irish Centre. Dermot is very proud of his Irish heritage and is looking forward to helping the centre to promote Irish culture and to look after vulnerable people in the London Irish community.

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The Boys of Scoil Realt na Maidine have Built an Igloo

They made it from recycled 2 litre milk containers. Great work, boys!

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Another Great Night in Mike the Pies

Mundy is pictured here with Caitríona MacCarthy. Photo by Denis Carroll

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Rattoo Abbey in the snow

Padraig O’Connor of Ballyduff photographed the abbey in the snow a few years ago.

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People in The Square on December 6 2015



 Damien O’Mahoney promoting Love Listowel

 Pierse Walsh of John R.’s Food Hall

These two from Apache Piazza on Bridge Road were very popular with the children.

Listowel’s tree 2015

 Hanleys and Hanlons


 Flavins

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From Cnoc an Óir



Mike Enright took these great photographs from the top of Cnoc an Óir, outside Ballybunion.


Ballybunion

Ballybunion Golf Club and Cemetery

Mouth of the Cashen

Monastery and tower on Scattery Island

Scattery

Boat in the estuary

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Emigrants full of hope

Vincent Doyle sent me this picture which was taken in 1962. It shows Vincent from Inch, Liam Hayes of Tannavalla and Tommy Behan of St. Brendan’s Terrace. These three friends worked together in Moloney’s Garage before deciding to set out to explore greener faraway hills. They emigrated to Birmingham.

Vincent later moved to London where he still lives. Liam has returned to Listowel with his wife, Una and sadly, Tommy has passed away.

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